Loose leaf binder



March 7, 1933. J. DAWSON 1,900,334 Q LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March 4, 1951 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT "emu-.

= JAMES o. nAwsonQor WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, AssIGNoR To" EEMA N. DAWSON, or

. wEBsrEE GROVES, MIsso-UEI N to room LEAF BINDER This invention relates to loose leaf binders and particularly binders in which wire elements form the toggle .system.

Trade custom has divided loose leaf binder metals into three groups, the. cheapest arched prongs from the ends of the wire toggle bar and since all :wire arch frame merchandise has been sold at very low prices, it has heretofore been impractical to supply such binders with an intermediate prong, although, to hold the paper securely; there is the same need for three or more prongs as exists in binders of the more expensive types. I

The principal objects of this invention areto provide wire arch frame binders with as many paper holding prongs as may be necessary, to provide means for causing the prongs to open wide apart without increasing the width of the cover plate, to utilize the conventional paper holding rings and the standard cover plates in the industry and to furnish a simple, cheap and effective binding device. 7

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the specification and drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device; V I

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the major portion of the loose leaf binder metal;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing toggle elements of the round wire type.

In my United States Patent No. 1,675,- 299, I disclosed a method for the manufacture of loose locking rings in an automatic, convenient and inexpensive manner.

The cover plates for wire arch frame 1931. Serial No. 519945 loose leaf binders are usually formed on a roll and as a consequence the sizes available are standardized and strictly limited.

It is to the manufacturers advantage to reduce the number of separate items he must make and tov make the greatest use possible of those pieces for which he'has tool equipment.

The present invention contemplates the use of what may be called standard parts, namely, the rings and the cover plate to form a wire arch binder having as many paper holding rings as are desired.

The binder, generally indicated by '10, comprises a cover plate 11, with downwardly turned or hooked margins '12 and13.

Hinged rings 14, 14 which maybe made in accordance with my patent No. 1,675,299, project through the aperatures 15 in the cover. The hinge 16 is located beneath the cover plate while half rings 17 and 18 form matingpairs of paper holding prongs.

A longitudinal wire 19 lies against=and is retainedby the hooked margins 12 and 13. In my preferred form, shown in Figs 1, 2

and 3,. the wires 19,19 are oval in cross sec tion. Inthe alternative form Fig 4: t119 wires 190 are round.

The rings are attached to the wires 19, 19 where they contact by any means, but preferably by a process set forth in a companion case, Serial No. 500,449, filed Dec. 6, 1930, wherein the ring is gripped in a vertically split lower welding electrode and a two pointed upper electrode brought to bear upon the two wires 19 simultaneously. The margins 12 and 13 are cut away at 20,

20 to give clearance for the electrode. The

Wires 19 and the rings 14: now make a rigid wire arch frame assembly which is jointed at the hinge pin 21. Since the hooked margins 12 and 13 prevent lateral movement of the wires 19, a dead center toggle mechanism is formed. The oval form of the wires 19 increaseslthe spreading movement of the plate margins as the wires turn about their Y axes upon the opening of the rings. ,The spring urglng thehalf-ring or prongs 11 itself.

. 17 and 18 into engagement is the cover plate same size of cover plate in both forms, the. advantage of the oval wire is apparent. Not only is a wider opening of prongs possible,

but I find the spring action is much improved. c

It will thus be seen that the binder is simple, cheap and effective, that none but standard parts are used in its make-up and that as many prongs as are requested by the trade can be furnished without difiiculty.

What I claim, therefore, is: 1. In a loose lea-f binder a cover plate having hooked margins, oval wires each having its short curve maintained against a margin of the plate and a plurality of paper holding prongs projecting through the cover and arranged in hinged pairs operatively connected to the wires. I

2. In a loose leaf binder a cover plate having downwardly turned margins, a wire maintained against each margin, a plurality of hinged rings projecting through the cover plate and having their hinge beneath and their open ends above the cover plate to form mating pairs of paper holding prongs, and a rigid connection between each half of each ring and the adjacent wire.

3. In a loose, leaf binder a cover plate having hooked margins, oval wires each having its short curve maintained against a margin of the plate, a plurality of hinged rings having their hinge beneath and their open ends above the cover plate and projecting therethrough to form mating pairs of paper holding prongs and a rigid connection between each half of each ring and the adjacent wire.

4. A loose leaf binder having a cover plate provided with downwardly turned margins and having a plurality of apertures adjacent the margins, a plurality of hinged rings projecting through the apertures to form mating pairs of paper holding prongs with their free ends above and their hinged ends within the cover plate and a wire within the cover plate lying along one downwardly turned margin and welded to the adjacent half of the hinged ring.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of conventional paper holding rings each comprising a hinged pair of mating paper holding prongs, a wire connecting corresponding prongs of the several rings and attached thereto at points above the hinge pivots when the rings are in a closed position, and means resisting the lateral movement of the wires whereby a dead center toggle mechanism is formed.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of conventional paper holding rings, a plurality of longitudinal members rigidly aflixed to the rings, means for resisting lateral movement of the longitudinal members, said rings forming the toggle elements of the device together with the longitudinal members.

' 7. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of surface segments in bearing against one of the plate margins. I

9. Ina loose leaf binder,-a*cover plate having hooked margins, out of round wires each being maintained against a margin of the plate with its major diameter normally inclined upward and-outward relatively to the plane of contact of the'two wires with the plate, and a plurality of paper-holdingprongs projecting through the cover and arranged in pivotally engaged pairs operatively connected to the wires.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a transversely bowed spring cover plate having hooked margins, out of round wires engaged Within such margins and having their major diameters inclined upwardly and outwardly relatively to the plane of contact of the two wires with the plate, and a plurality of paper-holding prongs attached to the wires and projecting through the plate, the prongs being arranged in pairs, the inner ends of the prongs of each pair being in pivotal engagement and being below the named plane when their outer ends are'in engagement.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JAMES C. DAWSON. 

